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axel_p's review
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Minor: Addiction, Alcoholism, Animal cruelty, Animal death, Body shaming, Bullying, Death, Drug abuse, Drug use, Eating disorder, Emotional abuse, Fatphobia, Homophobia, Infertility, Infidelity, Mental illness, Miscarriage, Panic attacks/disorders, Pedophilia, Racial slurs, Racism, Rape, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Sexual violence, Suicidal thoughts, Toxic relationship, Vomit, Islamophobia, Grief, Suicide attempt, Death of parent, Schizophrenia/Psychosis , Pregnancy, Lesbophobia, Toxic friendship, Abandonment, Alcohol, Sexual harassment, and Classism
ce_read's review against another edition
Graphic: Body shaming, Child abuse, Eating disorder, Emotional abuse, Fatphobia, Pedophilia, Rape, Sexual content, Sexual violence, Grief, and Lesbophobia
Moderate: Alcoholism, Child death, Domestic abuse, Homophobia, Mental illness, Miscarriage, Vomit, Car accident, Death of parent, Schizophrenia/Psychosis , Pregnancy, Outing, Abandonment, and Dysphoria
Minor: Animal death
cantfindmybookmark's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Graphic: Child abuse, Pedophilia, and Suicide attempt
Moderate: Abortion
dhritigupta's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Loveable characters? Yes
5.0
the interconnectedness and tenderness of these stories is endlessly special and cathartic!! i need another book from francesca ekwuyasi asap
Graphic: Child abuse, Rape, Sexual assault, and Death of parent
Moderate: Miscarriage, Pedophilia, Grief, and Suicide attempt
Minor: Homophobia and Vomit
headinthepages's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
5.0
I absolutely loved the characters and the way their stories intertwined. I loved their complex relationships with each other and themselves, and the secondary characters were brilliant.
Moderate: Alcoholism, Body horror, Child abuse, Child death, Death, Drug use, Emotional abuse, Gun violence, Homophobia, Infidelity, Miscarriage, Panic attacks/disorders, Pedophilia, Rape, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Sexual violence, Suicide, Vomit, Medical content, Grief, Death of parent, Pregnancy, Abandonment, Alcohol, Sexual harassment, and Injury/Injury detail
outerscout's review
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.25
Graphic: Miscarriage, Pedophilia, Rape, and Suicide attempt
Moderate: Drug use, Eating disorder, Panic attacks/disorders, Racism, and Colonisation
jayisreading's review
5.0
Ekwuyasi is an incredible writer, on top of that. Her lyrical prose will draw you in, and her food descriptions in particular will leave you hungry. Seriously, try not to read this book on an empty stomach.
Graphic: Child abuse, Pedophilia, Rape, Sexual assault, and Grief
Moderate: Animal death, Drug use, Homophobia, Miscarriage, Suicide attempt, Death of parent, and Alcohol
Minor: Body shaming
elizlizabeth's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
3.5
Graphic: Homophobia, Miscarriage, Panic attacks/disorders, Pedophilia, Sexual assault, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide, and Schizophrenia/Psychosis
Moderate: Addiction, Infertility, Rape, and Car accident
ecn's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
5.0
Graphic: Death, Mental illness, Miscarriage, Panic attacks/disorders, Pedophilia, Rape, Sexual assault, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide, Toxic relationship, Violence, Grief, Medical trauma, Death of parent, Murder, and Pregnancy
themillennialjareads's review
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
5.0
Imagine being mothered by an ethereal being from another realm who chose to create roots on earth regardless of the consequences of a life she wasn't supposed to have. Kambirinachi's character pulled me in, tugging at vague memories of the Bhagavad Gita, the first time I remember asking questions of what is and what happens to the soul, spirit, body and mind. As someone who's fascinated by cultures and religions, of course those were the first places I went in my questioning.
This story reminded of the impermanence and fragility of humanity and how much we don't know. How much we can barely imagine but believe in.
Is any of *THIS* really determined by us? What comes after? Should we fear or welcome it?
I was fascinated by how Kambirinachi spoke of the body as a cage, with so many inhibitions and that's outside of the things (like size, expectations, shame, fear, crimes, desires...) that we as humans attach to and impose on bodies. Almost every religion has different ideas about what happens and what should happen to the body after life. Which parts of ourselves go with it and which parts survive? Which parts are our true essence? Is it our soul or our mind or our spirit? Or are they all one and the same?
"Death is not, in fact, a dreary, hooded, scythe-bearing bore. She is a doorway personified, vibrant and hilarious, quite whimsical, actually. But she takes her job very seriously, more diligently than the tides that pulls back the ocean's skirts."
I can see why this novel is loved. This author expresses herself so phenomenally, it's impossible not to pause while reading to better take in what's being said. I'm still not over it, I need to read more from her. It's definitely a favorite of the year, it's a perfect combination of some of my favourite things.
Many beings, melodies and voices guided this family across continents and to the very end. Taiye's adventures and pleasures were absolutely delicious and my heart broke for both her and Kehinde. What's the point of being a twin without the full experience? The parallel experiences gave me what I wanted, they were unstoppable, pushing through all the trauma and resistance. I found myself wanting to get to Kehinde's chapters faster, maybe it's the first person narrative that made it so alluring and seem so much more personal or maybe because she was the one with more vivid, somewhat reliable memories. Taiye struggled with suppressed and repressed memories and we see the fracture that aided in expanding. Even inherited traits and gifts moved through the family without each line knowing because of the disconnect and silence. But despite everything, the ending met us beautifully and there was nothing else but a feeling of peace for the characters. I almost forget they are not real.
I can't possibly fit everything I need to say here. If you're late to the party like me go read this book for the new year, it's a gift
Graphic: Miscarriage
Moderate: Death, Pedophilia, Sexual assault, and Suicide attempt
Minor: Homophobia, Infertility, and Abandonment